We use the Passato Remoto in order to describe past actions which happened a long time ago and not recently. Examples:

Ci sposammo nel 1950.

We got married in 1950.

Andammo a New York nel 1993.

We went to New York in 1993.

Michele si svegliò nel cuore della notte.

Michele woke up in the middle of the night.

Let’s focus on two important factors. In Italy, Southern people show the tendency to use the Passato Remoto more frequently than Northern people, who have the custom to use more the Passato Prossimo than the Passato Remoto. The other factor is emotion based. If we feel an emotional connection with something that happened a long time ago, we have the tendency to use the Passato Prossimo instead of the Passato Remoto because we feel close to that moment. We haven’t studied the Passato Prossimo yet, so in the future we’re going to understand better the so-called “emotion factor”.

If we compare the Passato Remoto to the Imperfetto, we can notice a substantial difference. The Imperfetto, as we’ve already learned, refers to actions which used to be repeated in the past. The Passato Remoto focuses on actions which are finished.

Pasta and pizza are the most famous Italian dishes, even though every region has got its own traditional meals. In Milan, for example, you can eat the cotoletta alla milanese (a meat-based dish). In Rome, you can taste the pasta alla carbonara (pasta cooked with eggs and bacon). In addition to the ice cream, one of the tastiest desserts is the tiramisù, made with savoiardi cookies, mascarpone cheese, coffee and cocoa.

Look for Italian recipes (written in Italian!) on the Internet and surprise your friends and family! You will have the opportunity to improve your language skills and to learn how to cook!

KEY

1.1. Good evening, what would you like to order? 2. I’d like a dish of pasta alla carbonara. 3. I’d like a dish of swordfish. 4. One pizza, please. 5. What would you like to drink? 6. A bottle of red wine. 7. And a bottle of water, thank you.

3. Marisa, Andrea, Guglielmo and I, we’re at the restaurant. 2. Marisa wants to order a starter and a dish of spaghetti with tomato sauce. 3. Andrea would like to eat some fish. 4. And Guglielmo wants a steak. 5. I’d like to order a cotoletta with French fries. 6. We’d like a bottle of water to drink.